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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New neighbour AIBU?

206 replies

Foxyloxymoxy · 04/10/2025 09:31

Our new neighbour knocked on the door just a while ago asking if my Dh who they’ve never met would come in and help them erect their shed. I said that we have plans and we would be out for most of the day. To which she replied “I’d like to do it before it gets dark, we have lots to put in there so we can sort out the house”. To be honest, I didn’t know what to say to that. At this point my dh came to the door , she repeated the question and he hesitated (diy is not his forte!) and said pretty much what I had said. She asked, could he do it later and he replied not really because he has to pack because he’s going away tomorrow. She got a bit upset, said okay and walked off. Are we being unreasonable to have refused?

OP posts:
user0345437398 · 04/10/2025 13:14

I'd have asked how much they would pay me

DIYagainstMould · 04/10/2025 13:13

Local fb group.

GAJLY · 04/10/2025 13:13

Do you think she just wanted a 3rd pair of hands to hold the sides up, while they put it together? Mind you she may have expected time to put it together with her husband! Bit difficult to gauge exactly what she meant.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 04/10/2025 13:08

Cheeky buggers! But I do disagree with saying ‘That doesn’t work for us’ - it’s IMO a daft expression only ever seen on MN.

A simple, ‘Sorry, we can’t,’ is enough - plus details of a local handyman, if you can find one.

MeridianB · 04/10/2025 12:58

A complete stranger asking for a big task like this is so weird. And the fact that she pushed it when you said no - saying he could come later - is a big red flag. You did the right thing. There will be more requests. Avoid!

WaltzingWaters · 04/10/2025 12:54

Shocking! Some people baffle me 🤣
If she does ask again give her the name and number of a local handyman.

HelplessSoul · 04/10/2025 12:53

Clychaugog · 04/10/2025 11:27

Wow, there are some mean people on here. Very glad I live in a place where the community help each other with stuff like this.

It's nice to be nice. I'd have helped out.

I'd have told the CF to fuck (right) off.

Silverbirchleaf · 04/10/2025 12:53

InSpainTheRain · 04/10/2025 12:49

Definitely don't start helping her with anything! It'll be never-ending! Honestly, who has a whole Saturday to give someone to put up a shed for free?!

Especially with no notice.

InSpainTheRain · 04/10/2025 12:49

Definitely don't start helping her with anything! It'll be never-ending! Honestly, who has a whole Saturday to give someone to put up a shed for free?!

Original poster
Foxyloxymoxy · 04/10/2025 12:47

WatchingTheDetective · 04/10/2025 12:46

I think if she just needed an extra pair of hands, eg someone to hold the side steady while her partner did the work, that's one thing, but it sounded as though she wanted someone to help them set the whole thing up, which is ridiculous.

Yeah it really is, I mean it’s our whole Saturday. She was very assuming in her questioning which is what took me aback to how honest

OP posts:
WatchingTheDetective · 04/10/2025 12:46

I think if she just needed an extra pair of hands, eg someone to hold the side steady while her partner did the work, that's one thing, but it sounded as though she wanted someone to help them set the whole thing up, which is ridiculous.

RisingSunn · 04/10/2025 12:45

YANBU - People can be so weird.

sesquipedalian · 04/10/2025 12:45

Jeez Louise, she’s a CF. Don’t ever say yes to anything in the future, OP - she’s the sort who, given an inch would take a mile. I’m sorry for you that she’s your new neighbour. Best avoided, I think.

Iloveacurry · 04/10/2025 12:40

That be a no! Putting a shed up is a big job. Very cheeky of them.

Ooogle · 04/10/2025 12:38

Foxyloxymoxy · 04/10/2025 10:02

Do you really think someone would ask you to decorate their house? I never thought that would be possible to be honest. I wondered if she was just panicking that she had done the wrong thing and ordered something that premade or they just needed the third person and they didn’t think about it. I’m definitely glad we said no! I think she was expecting us to change our plans 🤣

Show quote history

I do. I never used to until I joined mumsnet and my eyes were opened to the extreme CFery that goes on. Some people have no shame.

I do agree with another poster who said don’t just keep saying you’re busy because she might keep coming back. Make it clear you can’t do diy and won’t be doing it

BirdShedRevisited · 04/10/2025 12:31

This will be the thin end of a farkin massive wedge OP.

I live in the middle of nowhere but am getting too old for it and will have to move into a town at some point. It's stuff like this that makes me dread it :(

TeenLifeMum · 04/10/2025 12:29

I can just imagine dh’s face if he was asked 😆 we wouldn’t put up our own shed, we’d pay someone as we know we are totally shit at this stuff. She’s so cheeky to think she can just find a random guy in the street to do stuff for her to the point we’d be laughing on and off for days if that happened to us. She’s going to be interesting.

murasaki · 04/10/2025 12:27

Well at least she's shown who she is early doors. Forewarned is forearmed.

Horses7 · 04/10/2025 12:25

Wow - you’ve now got an entitled CF next door - have a list of suitable excuses ready for the next time - and don’t feel embarrassed or bad about telling her no. A yes will be thin edge of a wedge and you’ll never get rid of her!

miniaturepixieonacid · 04/10/2025 12:21

Not unreasonable at all. How weird of her.

I've just moved house and 3 neighbours put cards through the door asking me to let them know if I needed anything - but even then, I wouldn't take that to mean 'come and build a shed for me - and not at a time of your convenince but right now, regardless of what you have planned.' That's way beynd a neighbour favour, it's a close friend/family favour - and even then you buy them a drink afterwards!

Silverbirchleaf · 04/10/2025 12:19

That’s full cf-ery! The assumption that her life is more important than yours. Glad you and dh stuck to your guns, and didn’t change your plans.

herbalteabag · 04/10/2025 12:13

You were not unreasonable at all, that is a big job, not a tiny quick thing!

Francestein · 04/10/2025 12:12

The next time she pops by with a request like this, I think you need to say "I think you're a bit confused. We're your neighbours, not the local handymen. You'll have to google someone."

pictoosh · 04/10/2025 12:11

What an outlandish request!
You did right to say no - and I bet if you could have the conversation again you'd say, "Ha...we didn't even build our own shed. No can do."

A very cheeky 'ask'. Noted though. Bloody hell.

ThatWildMintSloth · 04/10/2025 12:09

When she said she wants it done before dark you shouldve said "Well you better get a move on then hadn't you!"😂

No but seriously YANBU op